Multicolor rubber stamp



Nav. 18, 1 969 l TAKAJI FuNAHsHl 3,478,582

MULTIcoLoR RUBBER STAMP Filed May 9, 1967 United States Patent Of n A3,478,682 Patented Nov. 18, 1969 U.S. Cl. 101-327 5 Claims ABSTRACT oFTHE DISCLOSURE A novel stamping device in which a plurality ofpartitioned chambers are formed by partition plates at the lower part ofthe framing case, each partition accom modating therein a desired rubberletter block having numerous continuous pores and an ink absorber lodgedon the back thereof, so that ink of different color can be supplied fromeach-ink absorber thereby realizing a vivid multi-colored stampingoperation upon pressing against an article to be stamped, such as apaper.

This invention relates to a rubber stamp having a self contained inksupply and which is suitably used for multicolored stamping.

In the conventional rubber stamps, it is required to apply ink to theengraved letter block by pressing it against a stamp pad each timestamping is practised, and it was impossible to attain a multicoloredimpression in which each' one of a series of printed letters is ofdilerent color from the other. The present invention was achieved toeliminate such defects and to provide a convenient rubber stamp wherebya clear multicolored stamping is performed. This invention will beillustrated in more detail hereinafter with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front view, with a part cut away, of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view thereof, with a part cut away; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view, with a part cut away, of the stamp inexploded view.

Referring to the drawing, numeral 1 denotes a framing case made ofacryl-butadiene-styrene copolymerized resin (ABS resin) or the like.Said framing case 1 has stepped sections 1a and 1b, of differentdiameter. On the inner peripheral wall of said stepped section 1b areprovided a plurality of lengthwise grooves 2 formed at appropriateintervals along the entire surface of said inner peripheral wall. In theinside between said stepped sections 1a and 1b is integrally formed anintermediate seating pate 3 which is also made of acryl-butadienestyrenecopolymerized resin (ABS resin). Said seating plate 3 has its top openedand is provided at its back face with latticed grooves 4 which arealigned with said lengthwise grooves 2 for a reason to be explainedlater. It will also be seen that said framing case 1 has formed at itsupper peripheral edges (at both right and left sides thereof)projections 17 which are mated with checking projections 19 formed onthe inner walls of an outer framing member 16 to be described later. Atthe upper peripheral edges (at both front and back sides) of saidframing case 1, there are also formed stepped portions 18 which aremated in checked engagement with corresponding stepped portions 20formed on the inner walls of said outer framing member 16. Also formedat both right and left external side faces, slightly below saidprojections 17, of the framing case 1 are lugs 23 which serve for thereinforcement as well as the stabilization of said outer framing member16. Numeral 5 denotes a sleeve made of stainless steel or the like,which is mounted So as to be vertically slidable alongthe outer wall ofsaid framing case 1. The upper edge of said sleeve 5 is bent inwardly toform a bent-in edge portion 6. It will be noted that the sleeve 5 isslid down until said bent-in portion 6 is arrested by a stepped section7 formed on the external surface in the middle of said framing case 1.The skirt of said sleeveS is positioned slightly beyond engraved lettersurfaces 10' of vrubber letter blocks 10, to -be described later, whichare exposed from the bottom edge of the framing case 1. Numeral 8indicates partition plates which are made of stainless steel, or thelike, and both right and left side edges, and the upper vedges of whichare detachably inserted into said lengthwise grooves 2 and the alignedgrooves 4, vrespectively, to thereby partition the lower inside of thecase 1 into a plurality of partitioned chambers 9 according to thenumber of ink colors applied. In each of saidchambers 9 in the framingcase 1 is accommodated a rubber letter block 10 made of porous rubber,such as nitrilebutadiene rubber, having numerous continuous pores, saidletter block 10 having attached at its back, an ink absorber 11 -made ofpolyvinyl formal resin porous material. The letter blocks 10 are lockedin position by a frame detent 12 made of stainless steel or the like, insuch state that the engraved letter surfaces 10' are somewhat exposedbelow the bottom edge of the case 1. Numeral 13 denotes a pair ofsprings made of tough synthetic resin, such as polyacetal resin, saidsprings being formed with the substantially V-shaped symmetricalbifurcated portions 14', 14' on both sides of the band-shaped section14. Said springs 13 are disposed along both side faces of the framingcase 1, namely of the reduced diameter of the sleeve 5, in such mannerthat the lower bifurcated portions 14', are abutted against the uppersurface of the bent portion 6 of the sleeve 5 at a position where saidsleeve 5 is mounted on the stepped sections 1a and 1b of said framingcase 1 for being moved slidingly. The upper bifurcated portions 14', onthe other hand, are disposed so as to be checked by an inside steppedsection 15 of the outer framing member 16 made ofacryl-butadiene-styrene copolymerized resin (ABS resin) or the like,while substantially enclosing the outer surfaces of the framing case 1,the detent 12 and the sleeve 5. It will be noted that in this case, thechecking projections 17 and stepped portion 18 formed at the upper edgesof said framing case 1 are engaged with the corresponding checkingprojections 19 and stepped portion 20 formed on the inside of the outerframe 16 to thereby secure said case 1 to said outer frame 16 so thatthe sleeve 5 is always pressed downward by the elastic force of thesprings 13. Numeral 21 denotes a cover made of acryl butadiene-styrenecopolymen'zed (ABS) resin or other materials, said cover being providedwith an indicating section 22 on the upper surface thereof.

Now, the manner in which the stamp of the present invention is used willbe described hereafter. It will be seen that each of the partitionedchambers 9 formed by the partition plates 8 in the lower inside of theframing case 1 has contained therein a rubber letter block 10 containingan ink of the same color as that of the ink absorber 11 correspondingthereto. Each ink absorber 11 is on the back of a respective rubberletter block 10 and has previously occluded therein ink of differentcolor from the other absorbers. Now, when the outer framing member 16 isgrasped and the stamp pressed against a sheet of paper which is to beimprinted, and the member 16 urged downwards, the sleeve 5, which ismounted along the external wall of said case 1 and the bent-in edgeportion 6 of which is always urged downward by the elastic force of thesprings 13, is raised up against the force of said springs 13, thusallowing the framing case 1 to descend such that the skirt of the sleeve5, which is normally positioned slightly beyond the engraved lettersurfaces 10' of the rubber letter blocks 10, is raised from the paper,

while the letter surfaces 10 of the rubber letter blocks 10accommodated'within the partitioned chambers 9, come into contact withthe paper. Since each rubber letter block 10 has numerous continuouspores therein and is also accomodated within an independent chamber 9partitioned by the partition plates 8, carrying an ink absorber 11 onthe back thereof, it will be understood that ink occluded in each inkyabsorber 11 oozes out on the letter surface 10 of the correspondingrubber letter block 10 through said ink'absorber 11l and the numerouslcontinuous pores in said block'10 with the'result that a letter of acolor corresponding to the occluded ink color is clearly stamped on thepaper. After stamping, the stamp is lifted to release its pressureagainst the paper, which permits-the sleeve 5 to return-to its originalposition by the returning force of the springs 13, rthus retracting theink-permeated letter engraved'surfaces 10' of the'rubber letter blocks10 to a position where said surfaces are kept safe from staining otherobjects by being guarded 'by the skirt of the sleeve 5. Since each setconsisting of a rubber letter block and ink absorber 11 is accommodatedin a room 9Vperfectly separated from the other chambers by thepartitionrplates 8, there'is `no danger'that the ink vof one color onthe letter engraved surface 10 of one rubber letter block 10 can becomemixed with ink of a different color on other letter blocks 10, even ifthe stamping is practised repeatedly for a long time, thus assuring aperfectly clear stamping of letters of desired colors, Further, sincethe partition plates 8 are inserted detachably in the lengthwise grooves2 formed on the lower inner wall of the framing case 1, it is possibleto easily and suitably recompose the rubber letter blocks 10 accordingto the size or number thereof. As will be apparent from the aboveexplanation given for a preferred embodiment, the present inventionprovides a novel stamping device in which a plurality of partitionedchambers are formed by partition plates at the lower part of the framingcase, each of said chambers accommodating therein a desired rubberletter block having numerous continuous pores formed therein andcontaining a desired color ink therein, and an ink absorber lodged onthe back thereof, so that ink of a different color will be supplied fromeach ink absorber to thereby realize a vivid multi-colored stampingoperation, of which the resulting benefits in practical uses will be ofmuch significance.

What is claimed:

1. A rubber stamp comprising a framing case including an intermediateplate and depending walls deiining a compartment below said plate, saidplate and walls having internal surfaces with respective spaced groovestherein which are in alignment, aplurality of partition plates removablyengagedy in said 'grooves in the plate and Walls todeiine separateisolated chambers in said compartment in the case, a resilient letter:block in each chamber, each letter block having a plurality ofcontinuous pores therein an ink absorber on eachblock for the'supply ofink of a particular color to such block, each said block having a lowerprinting surface, and detent means mounted on said dependingwalls forsecuring the blocks and absorbers in the compartments such that thelower printing surfaces of the blocks project slightly below the loweredges of said depending Walls. i i l 2.l A rubber vstamp as'claimed inclaim 1 comprising a slidable sleeve encircling said case and includinga skirt normally covering said depending walls and extending therebelow-and below saidfprinting surfaces of the letter blocks, said case in aprinting positionbeing displaced downwardly with'respect tozsaid sleevesuch that the printing surface contacts the article to be imprinted.

3. A rubber stamp as claimed'- in claim 2 comprising an outer framingmember engaged with said case to displacethe same between `a raised,inoperative position and a lowered, printing position. Y y

4. A rubber stamp=as claimed in claim 3 comprising spring means betweensaid framingmevmber and said sleeve for permitting displacementoftheframing member and the case therewith to said printingposition andfor K returning the framing member and the case therewith t0 ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 659,535 10/1900 Lankford lOl-114 1,569,1891/1926 Kohnle lOl-393 2,427,765 9/ 1947 Chollar 101-327 2,575,77211/1951 Schenker 101-368 X ROBERT E. PULFREY, Primary Examiner E. H.EICKHOLT, Assistant Examiner U.S. C1. X.R. lOl-36S, 373

